Road Safety Campaign on Smart Versus Reckless Driving

Government has launched the second phase of its national road safety campaign, focusing efforts to promote responsible driving behaviours and reduce dangerous practices on the road. The campaign which is under the theme, “Smart vs Reckless Driving” urges all road users to take personal responsibility for their safety while protecting vulnerable groups such as pedestrians, cyclists, scooter riders and road workers.

The campaign promotes four key behaviours proven to reduce fatalities and serious injuries:

• Buckle up
• Do not speed
• Avoid mobile phone distractions while driving
• Never drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs

The messages will be shared through traditional and digital media, workplace outreach, and school programmes.

The national road safety campaign is led by the National Road Safety Strategy Committee, and coordinated by the Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure with representation from the National Roads Authority, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Department of Vehicle and Driver's Licensing, Public Transport Unit and the Ministry of Home Affairs and District Administration and several other entities.

In light of the recent fatalities on the roads in Grand Cayman, Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure (PLAHI), Hon. Jay Ebanks has underscored the gravity of the issue, stating, “We all have a role to play in keeping our roads safe. It starts with taking responsibility for how we drive, how we think about safety and how we look out for each other on the road. This campaign is not just about raising awareness, it is about saving lives. Far too often, serious road incidents happen because of poor decisions that could have been avoided. That has to change.”

Chair of the National Road Safety Committee and Chief Officer in the Ministry of PLAHI, Eric Bush, echoed the call for shared accountability, explaining, “This campaign marks a deliberate shift from simply talking about road safety to demanding real change. We cannot accept preventable tragedies as part of life in the Cayman Islands. The reality is simple, smart choices save lives. Reckless ones cost them. It is time for every road user to step up, take responsibility, and be part of the solution. The culture of safety we need won’t be built by government alone, it starts with each of us.”

The campaign, which was initially launched in 2023 as part of the national road safety strategy, has a bold vision of eliminating road fatalities and serious injuries by 2038. 

The strategy is built on four pillars:

• Education (through public awareness and school outreach)
• Enforcement (with enhanced police visibility and targeted operations)
• Engineering (for safer road design and infrastructure)
• Emergency Response (improving care after collisions

Persons can access campaign resources and learn more about the national road safety strategy at gov.ky/roadsafety.